Mozambique Peace Corps Volunteer Jessica Griffin involved in a head-on car crash that left her with skull fractures and numerous injuries



Jessica decided to join the Peace Corps to travel and "to live and learn more," said her brother Ruben Griffin, 30, of Ferndale. She volunteered to work and teach in Mozambique in southeastern Africa. But two weekends ago, her life abruptly changed after she was involved in a head-on car crash that left her with skull fractures and numerous injuries. Jessica's family received first word of the accident midafternoon Nov. 17. Jessica, now 24, was pulled from the car, said Ruben, who works as a chef at Toast restaurant in Ferndale. "It took five hours for an ambulance to get to her," he said. She was taken to a hospital in Xai Xai, but she was so seriously injured the Peace Corps arranged to have her airlifted to Pretoria, South Africa.

Mozambique Peace Corps Volunteer Jessica Griffin involved in a head-on car crash that left her with skull fractures and numerous injuries

Crash in Africa injures Ferndale woman


By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press

After Ferndale native Jessica Griffin graduated from college three years ago, the 21-year-old wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life.

Advertisement
Jessica decided to join the Peace Corps to travel and "to live and learn more," said her brother Ruben Griffin, 30, of Ferndale.

She volunteered to work and teach in Mozambique in southeastern Africa. But two weekends ago, her life abruptly changed after she was involved in a head-on car crash that left her with skull fractures and numerous injuries.

Jessica's family received first word of the accident midafternoon Nov. 17. Jessica, now 24, was pulled from the car, said Ruben, who works as a chef at Toast restaurant in Ferndale.

"It took five hours for an ambulance to get to her," he said.

She was taken to a hospital in Xai Xai, but she was so seriously injured the Peace Corps arranged to have her airlifted to Pretoria, South Africa.

Her parents, Kathryn Wedhorn and Dennis Griffin, and brother Colin Griffin, all of Oak Park, dropped everything and flew to be with Jessica.

Jessica went to Mozambique, where "she was on a mission to make a difference," said her aunt, Teri Williams of Oak Park.

"She had few creature comforts, like running water or a shower," Williams said.

The graduate of St. Mary's College of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., learned Portuguese and began teaching high school biology.

"I believe Jessi's passion for teaching enriched her students and the families she worked with in Africa."

She contracted malaria her first year, Ruben said.

In a document compiled by her aunts - Williams and Susan Watson of Wyandotte - they noted Jessica had "chickens in her yard, a garden, critters in the house and she learned to love beans. Jessi loved her life."

Ruben reported Jessica was due to come home to see family at the end of January.

"She was done with the Peace Corps and was considering taking a job for them stateside," Ruben said.

She had also mentioned pursuing a master's degree and doctorate.

"She even thought of going to Brazil or Portugal, because she knew the language," he said.

Jessica was a passenger in the back seat of a car with several other people, when a truck turned out in front of it, her family said.

The driver, a Mozambique resident, died in the crash. Jessica was admitted to the South African hospital about 20 hours after the accident in critical but stable condition, according to her family.

There she was treated for fractures to her skull, face, left arm, spinal cord, hip and other injuries.

There is concern she may lose sight in her right eye.

"They did surgery on her arm and put in a plate with nine screws," Ruben said. "They also did surgery to rebuild her face because every bone was fractured. Her jaw was wired shut."

Her brother Colin, 26, a college student, flew to Africa to be with his sister and returned home Nov. 25.

"She was better than we'd expected at first," he said.

"After her facial reconstruction last Saturday, she looked more like the sister I'm used to."

Colin recently heard his sister has been sitting up a little bit in bed.

"She is even somehow talking," he said.

Having family at her bedside has been important for her recovery, Williams said. The family has established "Jessica's Journey Foundation" and is requesting donations for expenses, lost wages, traveling and temporary housing.

The foundation was established at Credit Union One in Ferndale, where Jessica's mother works.

When Jessica was struggling to speak in the hospital, she used American Sign Language - another language she knows - to communicate, Colin said. "She asked about family," he reported. "That's really positive and hopeful."

Contact staff writer Carol Hopkins at (248) 745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oakpress.com.

FYI

To donate to Jessica's Journey Foundation, send a contribution to Credit Union One, Attention: Vern McClure, 400 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, MI 48220 or call (248) 854-6357. At 8 p.m. Thursday, people are invited to attend the Guitar Hero Fundraiser for Jessica's Journey Foundation at Skorz Bar and Grill on the corner of 15 Mile and Ryan in Sterling Heights. Visit www.radiancebirmingham.comÊfor updates on upcoming foundation events.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2007; Peace Corps Mozambique; Directory of Mozambique RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mozambique RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers

When this story was posted in December 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

---

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

---

---

November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Chris Dodd's service began with Peace Corps 9 Nov Matthew McCue called back to Iraq from Peace Corps 9 Nov Tschetter Visits Turkmenistan 9 Nov Lara Weber writes: Oprah Winfrey's stumble 9 Nov Heather Thompson works with P Diddy 7 Nov Karen Hughes' public diplomacy came to nothing 4 Nov James Rupert writes: Musharraf seizes power 3 Nov Martin Puryear is Man of Mysteries 2 Nov Sarah Chayes says Taliban score major victory 1 Nov John Sullivan runs Sudan Divestment Task Force. 30 Oct Tom Bissell writes: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 28 Oct Chris Shays to seek 12th term 25 Oct Helen Dudley can't stop giving 25 Oct Joseph Acaba named to STS-119 Shuttle Crew 22 Oct Vince Floriani in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team 22 Oct Kelly J. Morris writes "The Bight of Benin" 20 Oct Charles Shelan was Buddhist monk Wondam’s teacher 19 Oct Peace Corps returning to Liberia 18 Oct David Peckham started Village Bicycle Project 16 Oct Alberto Ibarguen announces grant for "Project Impunity" 15 Oct Campbell Memorial Park boosts ecotourism 15 Oct Bowers Family keep daughter's dream alive 15 Oct

---

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

---

Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation.

---

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

---

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

---

Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

---

He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Read the stories and leave your comments.